Changing settings of a mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A device enabling a change of settings of applications is implemented in a mobile terminal. In order to facilitate a change of such settings, the device comprises a storage portion for storing a plurality of configurations. Each stored configuration is associated to at least one location and each stored configuration defines settings for applications implemented in the mobile terminal. The device further comprises a controlling portion for receiving information on a current position of the mobile terminal, for retrieving automatically a configuration associated to a location identified by the position information from the storage portion, and for changing settings of applications implemented in the mobile terminal according to the retrieved configuration. The device can be either a mobile terminal, or a module for a mobile terminal. The invention relates equally to a corresponding system and to a corresponding method.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device and to a system enabling a change ofsettings of applications implemented in a mobile terminal. The inventionrelates equally to a software program product in which a software codefor changing settings of applications implemented in a mobile terminalis stored and to a method of changing settings of applicationsimplemented in a mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The functions provided by a mobile terminal, like a mobile phone or alaptop, are based on applications implemented in the mobile terminal andon settings defined for each of the applications.

Usually, a part of these settings can be changed by a user. Some mobileterminals allow to change easily only a few settings, like voice andvolume settings. Most of today's mobile terminals allow one to change agreat variety of useful settings, though. In either case, each of thesettings has to be changed manually by a user of the mobile terminal.

There are many different locations or situations, in which most users ofa mobile terminal prefer to change the settings of their mobile terminaltemporally. Changed settings may be desired e.g. in a church, in aclassroom, in a meeting room or in a cinema. Often, however, usersforget to change the settings as desired, or they forget later on tochange the settings back.

It is thus a disadvantage of known approaches that the user always hasto remember to change the settings as desired and that making use of allenabled, advantageous changes of settings is rather annoying.

For the voice settings of some applications, it is known to associate aspecific profile to a specific location. Nevertheless, the user has toselect the associated profile manually when coming to the location.Moreover, the settings and the corresponding locations are saved to therespective application, i.e. an extra software is needed for eachapplication for saving the settings and the corresponding locations tothe respective application. This is of particular disadvantage in casethere are many applications for which the settings are to be changed fora specific location.

In Windows®, there is a file called “win.ini”, in which settings ofapplications of a device are saved. The settings are read from this filewhen Windows® is started. However, this approach relates to the PCenvironment and it does not take into account the current location ofthe device when reading the settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to facilitate a change of settings in amobile terminal.

A device is proposed which enables a change of settings of applicationsimplemented in a mobile terminal. The proposed device comprises astorage portion for storing a plurality of configurations. Each storedconfiguration is associated to at least one location and each storedconfiguration defines at least one setting for at least one applicationimplemented in a mobile terminal. The proposed device further comprisesa controlling portion for receiving information on a current position ofa mobile terminal, for retrieving automatically a configurationassociated to a location identified by the position information from thestorage portion, and for changing settings of applications implementedin the mobile terminal according to the retrieved configuration.

The proposed device can be in particular be a mobile terminal of whichsettings are to be changed, or a controller module for the mobileterminal. Such a controller module can be implemented for instance bysoftware. The controller module can be integrated into the mobileterminal or be an external unit which is able to change the settings ofthe mobile terminal by transmitting corresponding configuration signalsto the mobile terminal.

Further, a system is proposed, which comprises a mobile terminal havingthe features of the proposed device, and in addition at least one unittransmitting signals to the mobile terminal. These signals enable themobile terminal to provide information on the current position of themobile terminal as position information to the controlling portion. Thesignals can either include an information on the current position of themobile terminal or enable the mobile terminal to determine its currentposition. The units transmitting signals to the mobile terminal can befor instance GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, base stationsof a mobile communication network, units of a WLAN (Wireless Local AreaNetwork) and/or Bluetooth™ units.

Moreover, a software program product is proposed, in which a softwarecode for changing settings of applications implemented in a mobileterminal is stored. When running in a processing unit of a mobileterminal, the software code realizes the step of receiving informationon a current position of the mobile terminal, the step of retrieving astored configuration, which configuration is associated to a locationidentified by the received position information and which configurationdefines at least one setting for at least one application implemented inthe mobile terminal, and the step of changing settings of applicationsimplemented in the mobile terminal according to the retrievedconfiguration.

Finally, a method of changing settings of applications implemented in amobile terminal is proposed. The method comprises at a controllingportion of the mobile terminal as a first step receiving information ona current position of the mobile terminal. As a second step, theproposed method comprises retrieving a stored configuration, whichconfiguration is associated to a location identified by the receivedposition information and which configuration defines at least onesetting for at least one application implemented in the mobile terminal.The proposed method comprises as a last step changing settings ofapplications implemented in the mobile terminal according to theretrieved configuration.

The invention proceeds from the idea that the settings for variousapplications of a mobile terminal could be stored in common in arespective configuration. The invention further proceeds from the ideathat the settings could be changed automatically depending on therespective location of the mobile terminal, when stored configurationsare associated to different locations.

It is an advantage of the invention that the user of a mobile terminalhas to define the settings for a specific location only once, not eachtime when reaching this location.

It is further an advantage of the invention that all settings defined ina stored configuration are changed automatically when a locationassociated to this configuration is reached. The user can thus notforget anymore to change settings as desired. Thereby, the mobileterminal can be used effectively and diversely.

It is further an advantage of the invention that there is no need tosave settings and location information to different applications of themobile terminal. Consequently, extra software needed for saving thelocations and the settings to the applications can be avoided.

Current applications of mobile terminals will support the inventionafter slight changes. Future applications could work without anysoftware changes or additions. The applications do not have tounderstand the position information. The new applications can simplyregister and use the service provided by the invention.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the storage portion enablesfurther a storage of definitions of an action, wherein each storeddefinition of an action is associated to at least one location. Thedefinition of an action can be associated separately to at least onelocation or together with an equally stored configuration. Thecontrolling portion retrieves automatically as well a definition of anaction from the storage portion, in case such a definition is associatedto a location identified by a received position information. Thecontrolling portion then causes an action corresponding to the retrieveddefinition.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the proposed devicecomprises in addition a user interface portion, which can be used forcontrolling the proposed change of settings in various ways. Forexample, a user interface portion may enable a user to add or amendinformation stored in the storage portion, e.g. configurations ordefinitions of actions. A user interface portion may also enable a userto switch off the automatic change of settings performed by thecontrolling portion. Further, a user interface portion may enable a userto assign different priorities to different locations, since differentlocations may be overlapping. A smaller location may even lie entirelywithin a larger location. In case a plurality of locations areidentified by a position information, the controlling portion can thenretrieve a configuration from the storage portion, which is associatedto the location to which the highest priority was assigned.

The storage portion advantageously comprises a first database forstoring the configurations and a second database for storing informationon different locations. By using two separate databases, the sameconfiguration may be used for several locations, if each entry in thesecond database refers to one of the entries in the first database. Thecontrolling portion may then actively determine whether a terminal isentering or leaving a location defined in the second database, and oneof the configurations stored in the first database is selectedautomatically by the controlling portion in case of a match found in thesecond database. In the first database, in addition definitions ofactions may be stored, either as separate entries or in a single entrytogether with a respective configuration.

The storage portion further comprises advantageously a default entrydefining a specific behaviour. The default entry can be used by thecontrolling portion for acting according to the defined behaviour, incase a received position information identifies a location for which noentry is stored. The defined behaviour may comprise for instancechanging settings, but equally other actions like generatingnotifications or requesting an input from the user of the device.

In case the device according to the invention is a mobile terminal, itcomprises advantageously in addition at least one positioning componentfor determining a current position of the mobile terminal. In thepositioning components, different positioning methods can beimplemented. Several positioning components can be connected via alocation framework to the controlling portion for providing the requiredposition information.

In case the mobile terminal comprises a communication component forexchanging data with a network, the terminal may further receivepredefined configurations and predefined location information from anetwork for storage in the storage portion. Such a network couldmoreover provide the mobile terminal with a rough position or areainformation, e.g. based on the Cell ID (identification) or onBluetooth™. This would allow use of the same controlling module as wellin mobile terminals in which a location framework or a positioningcomponents are not available. In the future, it might also be possiblethat a mobile terminal receives certain positioning information or apositioning information package using commercial services through an IP(Internet Protocol) network, SMS (Short Message Service), MMS(Multimedia Message Service) or e-mail from a network.

The invention can be employed for various mobile terminals, for varioussettings and/or actions and for various location dependent requirements.A few practical examples will be presented in the following. The mobileterminal can be for example a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), a hand-held terminal or a laptop terminal. Even vehicles,like bicycles, private or rented cars, taxis, buses, boats, ships,airplanes etc., can be considered to constitute a kind of a mobileterminal. Nowadays, quite many of these vehicles have also a method fordefining the location of the “terminal”. Changeable settings are, amongothers, IP settings, WLAN settings for different networks, terminalprofile settings, contact database settings, privacy and securitysettings, IrDA (Infrared Device Adapter) and Bluetooth™ settings.

The invention can thus be used for instance for changing automaticallythe settings of a laptop and of its applications when entering theoffice and when arriving at home. Also application settings in thedesktop of a terminal could be changed based on the location ofterminal. A different homepage may be used at home and in the office, adifferent email access may be enabled for work-email and home-email, anddifferent contacts may be provided by a contacts database at home and inthe office.

Moreover, when the user leaves home or any other predetermined location,the terminal could remind the user that the doors should be locked orthat they are not locked according to a defined action. Similarly, theterminal could remind a user leaving a predetermined location that thelights should be switched off or are not switched off, etc. Instead ofreminding a user of some action or in addition to reminding a user ofsome action, a service in the terminal could also perform itself such anaction, like locking doors or switching off lights, automatically, whenthe user leaves a predetermined location. To this end, the terminal hasto communicate with a locking/controlling system and/or a securitysystem which has been installed for the location, e.g. for a house or avehicle.

Privacy and security settings may indicate for example to whom positioninformation relating to some location is provided, or they may include afly mode in which the terminal is switched off. Moreover, many hospitalshave areas where mobile phones should be switched off, which can betaken care of automatically by the invention. It is also a privacy issuewhether a user wants to use the pin-code of a SIM-card or not dependingon the current location of the terminal.

A change of Bluetooth™ settings may activate a Bluetooth™ positioning inthose places in which it is possible. Different Bluetooth™ settingscould also be desired for different meeting rooms. Further, theBluetooth™ settings could allow sending advertisements by Bluetooth™ tothe user if the user is located in a shop.

The change of settings and the caused actions may also relate to somefuture services. For example, in parking places, free parking boxed orextra prices may be indicated, etc. Further, the invention may be usedin a system which allows to rent a vehicle through a mobile terminal andto reserve the closest free car, city-car or van. The owner of such asystem could also be a community or a city.

Moreover, in some sports, activities or games, people try to navigatebased on instructions which are collected from points that are marked ina pre-defined manner. With a future service, these points could bemarked as coordinates and following actions and/or instructions can bedelivered directly to the mobile terminal of players when they arrive ata location to which a definition of such a delivery is associated. Whenthe delivery of actions and/or instructions is defined as action in thestorage portion, a physical marking of the location is not required anymore.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should bemade to the appended claims. It should be further understood that thedrawings are not drawn to scale and that they are merely intended toconceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a embodiment of a systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a table illustrating the structure of databases used in amobile terminal of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method which is implemented in themobile terminal of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 schematically presents a system according to the inventioncomprising a mobile terminal 1, a mobile communication network 2 and aplurality of GPS satellites 3. In the mobile terminal 1, variousapplications 4 are implemented, and the system enables an automaticchange of settings of these applications 4 in dependence on therespective location of the mobile terminal 1.

The terminal settings may include by way of example terminal profiles,the selection of a contact database, the settings of a desktop view,Internet settings, IrDA/Bluetooth™ settings and Privacy/Securitysettings.

The mobile terminal 1 comprises a communication component 5 forcommunicating with the mobile communication network 2 and a plurality ofpositioning components 6. In each positioning component 6, a differentpositioning method is implemented. The implemented positioning methodsmay comprise for instance terminal based positioning methods like a GPSbased positioning method, network based positioning methods like anE-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference), a Cell-ID or a Bluetooth™based positioning method, and/or network assisted positioning methodslike an A-GPS (Assisted GPS) based positioning method. In the presentedembodiment, at least a GPS based positioning method and at least onenetwork based or network assisted positioning method is implemented in arespective one of the positioning components 6. For the at least onenetwork based and/or network assisted positioning method, thecommunication component 5 is connected to at least one of thepositioning components 6. The mobile terminal 1 further comprises alocation framework 7, which can be used for connecting to the differentposition methods.

In addition, the mobile terminal 1 comprises a location dependent mobileterminal controller LDMTC 8, which is realized as a software module andwhich comprises all functions required specifically for the invention.The LDMTC 8 includes an LDMTC engine 9, which has access to the terminalsettings and which is connected to the communication component 5 and tothe location framework 7. The LDMTC 8 moreover includes an LDMTC userinterface (LDMTC UI) 10 for controlling the LDMTC 8, an LDMTC areadatabase DB 11 for storing area information and an LDMTC settingsdatabase DB 12 for storing information for terminal settings and actionsdefined in saved configurations. The LDMTC user interface 10, the LDMTCarea database 11 and the LDMTC settings database 12 are connected to theLDMTC engine 9. The LDMTC 8 controls all terminal settings that a userhas defined in the LDMTC settings database 12.

The structure of the LDMTC area database 11 and the structure of theLDMTC settings database 12 are shown in FIG. 2.

The structure of the LDMTC area database 11 is presented on the lefthand side of FIG. 2. Each entry in this database comprises a positiondefined by its degrees of longitude and latitude, the area size of alocation at this position, a name for the location, the date at whichthe entry was generated or updated, and a reference to an entry in theLDMTC settings database.

The structure of the LDMTC settings database is presented on the righthand side of FIG. 2. Each entry in this database comprises aconfiguration defining a plurality of settings. In addition, each entrymay comprise the definition of an action and other details.

Among the presented exemplary entries for the LDMTC area database 11, afirst entry is an entry for “position 1”, generated on Jan. 22, 2003.The location is named “center” and has an area size of 700 m. The entrycomprises a reference “ref1” to the first entry in the LDMTC settingsdatabase 12. A second entry in the LDMTC area database 11 is an entryfor “position 2”, generated on Dec. 14, 2002. The location is named“home” and has an area size of 100 m. The entry comprises equally areference “ref1” to the first entry in the LDMTC settings database 12. Athird entry in the LDMTC area database 11 is an entry for “position 3”generated on Jan. 8, 2003. The location is named “office” and has anarea size of 250 m. The entry comprises a reference “ref3” to the thirdentry in the LDMTC settings database 12. A fourth entry in the LDMTCarea database 11 is an entry for “position 4” generated on Jan. 10,2003. The location is named “cinema” and has an area size of 50 m. Theentry comprises a reference “ref2” to the second entry in the LDMTCsettings database 12. A fifth entry in the LDMTC area database 11 is anentry for any “other” position, generated on Jan. 28, 2003.Correspondingly, the location is named “default”, and an area size isnot defined. The entry comprises a reference “ref4” to the fourth entryin the LDMTC settings database 12.

Among the presented exemplary entries for the LDMTC settings database12, a first entry comprises a “profile 1” as a configuration. Further,an action is defined in this first entry. It is defined morespecifically that an SMS is to be sent when the mobile terminal entersan area for which an entry in the LDMTC area database 11 refers to thefirst entry of the LDMTC settings database 12. In the second entry inthe LDMTC settings database 12, a “configuration 1” is defined as aconfiguration. Also in the second entry, an action is defined. In thiscase, an email is to be sent when the terminal 1 leaves an area forwhich an entry in the LDMTC area database 11 refers to the second entryof the LDMTC settings database 12. In the third entry in the LDMTCsettings database 12, a “profile 2” is defined as a configuration. Alsoin the third entry, an action is defined. In this case, an SMS alarm isto be sent when this third entry is selected. In the fourth entry in theLDMTC settings database 12, a “profile 3” is defined as a configuration.In the fourth entry, no action is defined.

Before a user of the mobile terminal 1 can benefit from the LDMTC 8,he/she has to define some configurations in the databases 11, 12.

When a user reaches for the first time a location for which he/shedesires specific settings, he/she opens an application for an LDMTCconfiguration via the LDMTC UI 10. The location can be for exampleschool, a classroom, a meeting room, home, the workplace, a cinema, aprivate car etc. The application for the LDMTC configuration is runningin the LDMTC engine 9.

The LDMTC engine 9 requests the current position from the locationframework 7. The location framework 7 receives the current position froma currently active positioning component 6. In the situation depicted inFIG. 1, a positioning is performed in one of the positioning components6 based on satellite signals received from the GPS satellites 3 and/orbased on positioning information received from the network 2 through thecommunication component 5. The resulting position information isforwarded via the location framework 7 and/or the communicationcomponent 5 to the LDMTC engine 9.

The LDMTC engine 9 moreover asks the user to set an LDMTC configurationfor the received position information.

The user selects the terminal profile, the contact database, the desktopview, the IP settings, the privacy and security settings for locationtechnologies and terminal usage, the preferred location technologysettings, the frequency of the positioning information update, theterminal security settings, etc., which are always to be used at thecurrent location. This selection is entered by the LDMTC engine 9 as anew configuration entry to the LDMTC settings database 12. Further, theuser may define an action for the current location, like sending an SMSwhen entering or leaving the location or generating an alarm or anotification. The defined action could also be a user verification, i.e.a user is requested to accept or reject a presented option. Anacceptance may then generate a new action, e.g. through a commercialservice which the user has pre-defined.

In case the desired configuration, part of the desired configuration ora desired action has already been defined before for another location,the user may also use a copying function for assembling all desiredinformation for the entry. In case exactly the same entry is to be usedas for another location for which a configuration was definedpreviously, this entry is simply selected by the user.

In addition, the user is requested to input a name for the currentlocation and the size of the location. Name and size are entered by theLDMTC engine 9 to the LDMTC area database 11 together with thedetermined position information and the date of entry. The LDMTC engine9 equally associates a reference to the newly generated entry or theselected old entry of the LDMTC settings database 12.

Similarly, existing entries of the two databases 11, 12 can be amendedby a user via the LDMTC user interface 10.

Alternatively, the LDMTC engine 9 could download via the communicationcomponent 5 predefined positioning and/or settings packages from themobile communication network 2, e.g. using commercial network services.Such packages may be provided for instance by e-mail, SMS, MMS or setupfiles and comprise all location information for a current locationand/or a configuration commonly desired at the current location.

Next time the user arrives at the newly entered location, all terminalsettings will automatically follow the LDMTC configuration that has beendefined for this location, as will be explained in the following withreference to FIG. 3.

The LDMTC engine 9 in a step 30 offers to the user by means of the LDMTCuser interface 10 the possibility “Manual/Auto” to choose an automaticor a manual selection of settings defined in the LDMTC settings database12.

In case the user chooses a manual selection, the LDMTC engine 9 waits ina loop until the user chooses an automatic selection again.

In case the user chooses an automatic selection, the LDMTC engine 9continuously requests a position information from the location framework7 as shown in a step 32. The location framework 7 provides thereupon therequested position information to the LDMTC engine 9, in case itreceives the information from one of the positioning components 6.

In case the location framework 7 is currently not able to provide aninformation on the position of the mobile terminal 1, the LDMTC engine 9returns to the beginning of the procedure, checking again in the step 30whether a manual or an automatic setting was chosen.

In this loop, some kind of a timeout parameter could be provided. If thelocation framework 7 is not able to provide any position informationwithin a period of time defined by the timeout parameter, the locationframework 7 could generate for example a verification for the user,requesting what to do next. The user may choose thereupon to select apreferred configuration manually. The selected configuration is thenused until the location framework 7 has position information availableagain.

Preferably, the user is able to select for each configuration stored inthe LDMTC settings database 12 a maximum time which is accepted withoutpositioning information when this configuration is in use. If the usergoes to the cinema, for example, it is very probable that positioninginformation cannot be obtained until the user leaves the cinema again.Advantageously, there is also an entry in the LDMTC Area database 11 forthe case that no position is available after a timeout. In this entry,the user can then define a reference to a specific default configurationin the LDMTC settings database 12 that should be used after a timeout.

In case the location framework 7 is able to provide information on thecurrent position of the mobile terminal 1, as determined in a step 34,the LDMTC engine 9 searches in a step 36 the received position in theLDMTC area database 11. It checks more specifically, whether the currentposition corresponds to one of the stored positions with a maximumdeviation defined by the respectively associated area size. In case theLDMTC engine 9 does not find any matching entry in the LDMTC areadatabase 11, the LDMTC engine 9 returns to the beginning of theprocedure as shown in a step 38.

In case the LDMTC engine 9 finds a matching entry in the LDMTC areadatabase 11, the LDMTC engine 9 reads the entry in the LDMTC settingsdatabase 12 to which the reference in the matching entry in the LDMTCarea database 11 refers as shown in a step 40. The current position mayfor example correspond with a deviation of less than 50 m to “position4” stored in the LDMTC area database 11 for some “cinema”. Theassociated reference is “ref2”, which refers to the second entry of theLDMTC settings database 12. The LDMTC engine 9 therefore retrieves fromthe LDMTC settings database 12 the configuration defined in the secondentry, “configuration 2”, and in addition the action defined in thisentry, “send email when leaving area”.

The LDMTC engine 9 now changes the settings of the applications 4implemented in the mobile terminal 1 as defined in the retrievedconfiguration information. It has to be noted that the depictedapplications 4 may comprise not only an original default set ofapplications, but in addition extra applications which have beenregistered to the LDMTC 8 later on.

Further, the LDMTC engine 9 executes any action defined to be executedwhen the area of the current position is entered as shown in a step 42.In addition, the LDMTC engine 9 buffers any action defined to beexecuted when the area of the current position is left. Then, the LDMTCengine 9 returns to the beginning of the procedure.

The buffered actions are executed by the LDMTC engine 9 when a newavailable position information results in no match or in another matchthan for the current position in the LDMTC area database 11. Forexample, the current position could be home. The LDMTC 8 could beconfigured to check each time when the user leaves the home area whetherall doors are locked, all lights are turned off, etc. If the LDMTC 8finds any contradiction against this configuration, it notifies the useror requests a verification from the user. In some embodiment, the LDMTC8 could even be designed to lock unlocked doors automatically, when thehome area is left.

In case the user chooses a manual selection of settings defined in theLDMTC settings database 12, the position dependent automatic functionsdescribed with reference to FIG. 3 are not activated, as mentionedabove. Instead, the LDMTC user interface 10 offers the user thepossibility to select a particular configuration from the LDMTC settingsdatabase 12. This is of advantage, in case a user wants to deviate fromthe configuration defined for a current location. Further, it allows useof the same LDMTC module 8 in a terminal which does not have anyposition technologies. The user can then select him/herself a storedposition dependent or independent configuration. Even in the lattercase, benefits are achieved with the LDMTC module 8, since all terminalsettings desired for a specific position, area or situation can beselected by a single action.

For a manual selection, the LDMTC module 8 may offer the possibility toselect directly a configuration stored in the LDMTC settings database12, or indirectly by selecting an entry in the LDMTC area database 11,which can be identified more easily by the name associated to a specificposition.

While there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novelfeatures of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof,it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions andchanges in the form and details of the devices and methods described maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, it is expressly intended that allcombinations of those elements and/or method steps which performsubstantially the same function in substantially the same way to achievethe same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, itshould be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method stepsshown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form orembodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosedor described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter ofdesign choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. A device enabling a change of settings of applications implemented ina mobile terminal, said device comprising: a storage portion for storinga plurality of configurations, wherein at least one of the storedconfigurations is associated to at least one location and defines atleast one setting for at least one application implemented in a mobileterminal; and a controlling portion for receiving information on acurrent position of a mobile terminal, for retrieving automatically aconfiguration associated to a location identified by said positioninformation from said storage portion, said controlling portion beingadapted to retrieve, in case a plurality of locations are identified bysaid position information, a configuration which is associated to anidentified location to which a highest priority was assigned, and forchanging settings of applications implemented in said mobile terminalaccording to said retrieved configuration.
 2. A device according toclaim 1, wherein said storage portion enables further a storage ofdefinitions of an action, wherein each stored definition of an action isassociated to at least one location, and wherein said controllingportion further retrieves automatically a definition of an actionassociated to a location identified by a received position informationfrom said storage portion and causes an action corresponding to saidretrieved definition.
 3. A device according to claim 2, furthercomprising a user interface portion enabling a user to define an actionfor a specific location, which definition is stored by said controllingportion in said storage portion and associated to said specificlocation.
 4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a userinterface portion enabling a user to define a new configuration for anew location, which new configuration is stored by said controllingportion in said storage portion and associated to said new location. 5.A device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interfaceportion enabling a user to amend a configuration stored in said storageportion via said controlling portion.
 6. A device according to claim 1,further comprising a user interface portion enabling a user to switchoff said automatic change of settings performed by said controllingportion.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said user interfaceportion is for enabling a user to manually select a configuration storedin said storage portion, said controlling portion changing settings ofapplications implemented in a mobile terminal according to said selectedconfiguration.
 8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising auser interface portion enabling a user to define a name for a specificlocation, which name is stored by said controlling portion in saidstorage portion for said specific location.
 9. A device according toclaim 1, further comprising a user interface portion enabling a user todefine a size of a specific location, which size is stored by saidcontrolling portion in said storage portion together with a positioninformation for said specific location, and wherein said controllingportion assumes a specific location to be identified by a receivedposition information, when the position information defines a positionwhich lies within an area defined by a stored position information andan associated size.
 10. A device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a user interface portion enabling a user to assign differentpriorities to different locations.
 11. A device according to claim 1,wherein said storage portion comprises a first database for storing saidconfigurations and a second database for storing information ondifferent locations, wherein each entry for a specific location in saidsecond database comprises a reference to an entry in said firstdatabase, and wherein an entry in said second database can be selectedby said controlling portion based on received position information. 12.A device according to claim 11, wherein said first database enables inaddition a storage of definitions of an action.
 13. A device accordingto claim 1, wherein said storage portion comprises a default entrydefining a specific behaviour, which default entry is used by saidcontrolling portion for acting according to said defined behaviour, incase a received position information does not identify a location towhich an entry stored in said storage portion is associated.
 14. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein said device is a controller modulefor a mobile terminal.
 15. A device according to claim 1, wherein saiddevice is said mobile terminal.
 16. A device according to claim 15,further comprising at least one positioning component, in which apositioning method for determining a current position of said mobileterminal is implemented, and a location framework for receiving positioninformation from said at least one positioning component and forproviding received position information to said controlling portion. 17.A device according to claim 15, further comprising a communicationcomponent for receiving from a network predefined configurations forstorage in said storage means.
 18. A device according to claim 15,further comprising a communication component for receiving from anetwork predefined location information for storage in said storagemeans.
 19. A device according to claim 15, further comprising acommunication component for receiving from a network a positioninformation and for forwarding said position information to saidcontrolling portion to enable said controlling portion to automaticallyretrieve an entry associated to a location identified by said positioninformation from said storage portion.
 20. The device of claim 1, saidcontrolling portion being adapted to retrieve, in case said plurality oflocations identified by said position information overlap.
 21. A systemcomprising a mobile terminal with: a storage portion for storing aplurality of configurations, wherein at least one of the storedconfigurations is associated to at least one location and defines atleast one setting for at least one application implemented in saidmobile terminal; and a controlling portion for receiving information ona current position of said mobile terminal, for retrieving automaticallya configuration associated to a location identified by said positioninformation from said storage portion, said controlling portion beingadapted to retrieve, in case a plurality of locations are identified bysaid position information, a configuration which is associated to anidentified location to which a highest priority was assigned, and forchanging settings of applications implemented in said mobile terminalaccording to said retrieved configuration; said system furthercomprising at least one unit transmitting signals to said mobileterminal, which signals enable said mobile terminal to provideinformation on a current position of said mobile terminal as positioninformation to said controlling portion.
 22. A system of claim 21, saidcontrolling portion being adapted to retrieve, in case said plurality oflocations identified by said position information overlap.
 23. A methodof changing settings of applications implemented in a mobile terminal,said method comprising at a controlling portion of said mobile terminal:receiving information on a current position of said mobile terminal;retrieving a stored configuration, which configuration is associated toa location identified by said received position information and whichconfiguration defines at least one setting for at least one applicationimplemented in said mobile terminal, wherein in case a plurality oflocations are identified by said position information, a configurationis retrieved which is associated to an identified location to which ahighest priority was assigned; and changing settings of applicationsimplemented in said mobile terminal according to said retrievedconfiguration.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said plurality oflocations are overlapping.